May 2006

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Teflon, Popcorn Concern

Subscribers Only A chemical used to manufacture numerous consumer products, including nonstick cookware, microwave popcorn bags and fast-food French fry containers, is a likely carcinogen, according to a recent EPA finding.

Yogurt That Claims to Conquer Constipation

Subscribers Only Activia is a new functional food that claims it “helps naturally regulate the digestive tract.” Translation? It helps relieve constipation.

Research Roundup

Subscribers Only • Eating red grapefruit as part of a heart-healthy diet can significantly improve lipid levels. • A high intake of calcium-rich dairy foods, especially milk, was linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer. • Low-carb diets can help you lose weight , lower triglycerides and raise “good” high-density lipoproteins.

Fruit That’s Plum Good for Health and Taste

Subscribers Only Plums come in a variety of shapes and colors ranging from green to black-red. Whatever hue, they are antioxidant superstars, surpassed only by wild blueberries and cranberries. Try EN 's recipe: Plum-Raspberry Soup.

The Sonoma Diet: Weight-Loss Tips From Wine Country

Subscribers Only Q. I keep hearing about The Sonoma Diet . Is it healthful? Will it help me lose weight? A. Yes on both counts. This weight-loss bestseller is not only one of the most popular diet books right now, but is probably one of the best.

Soy Still Healthful, Despite News It Doesn’t Help Heart….or Much Else

Subscribers Only Q. I heard that the American Heart Association no longer recommends soy. Should I stop eating soy foods? A. No, because they’re still healthful, if not the potent panaceas once envisioned.

TV Dinners to Organic Entrées. . . .We’ve Come a Long Way

Subscribers Only A lot has changed since the first TV dinner was introduced some 50 years ago. Now there are cuisines from Italian to Indian, plus many have gone organic. An EN brand-by-brand comparison.

EN Tackles New Questions About Calcium’s Role in Bone Health

Subscribers Only Another confusing round of findings from the Women’s Health Initiative study suggested that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements offered no significant benefit for preventing fractures. There’s more to the story.

A Weekly To-Do List to Help Delay or Prevent Dementia

Subscribers Only Dementia is on the rise; experts expect the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease--now 4.5 million---to quadruple by 2050. However, there’s plenty you can do to maintain your brain. Here is EN ’s advice.

Some Salty Wisdom: EN Helps You Slash Sodium by Shopping Smart

Subscribers Only Conventional wisdom: Cut back on salt to avoid high blood presssure. But the real culprit is the sodium in salt---and in foods that don’t taste at all salty. EN explains why and searches supermarket shelves for simple ways to cut back.

B Vitamins a Bust for Heart in Two Trials

Subscribers Only Despite the fact that getting more of the B vitamins folic acid, B6 and B12 significantly lowers blood levels of homocysteine, B supplements do not seem to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Keeping an Eye on Your Diet May Help Save Your Sight in the Long Run

Subscribers Only It's not just about eating carrots. Enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables can protect your eyes, particularly against age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older Americans.